Gregg Williams apologizes for “terrible mistake”

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 2, 2012, 5:27 PM EST

AP

Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has publicly apologized, hours after the NFL announced that Williams had violated league rules by orchestrating a system of bounties during his time on the staff of the Saints.

“I want to express my sincere regret and apology to the NFL, Mr. Benson, and the New Orleans Saints fans for my participation in the ‘pay for performance’ program while I was with the Saints,” Williams said. “It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.”

Williams isn’t making any type of effort to deny or minimize his role in this: He broke the rules, he knows he broke the rules, and he knows consequences are coming.

The question now is what kind of consequences will be coming. The Saints are sure to be disciplined by the league office, but if the Rams lose their defensive coordinator to a lengthy suspension, then two teams will be directly affected by this still unfolding story.

Well, at least he manned up and didn’t try to make excuses for his actions. But it doesn’t say much for a man’s character when he knows something is wrong and does it anyway. Especially for over 3 years.

All the players got hit by Williams planing, nfl should let those player to hit williams. Saints and Williams done, what a jackass.

time2speakup says:Mar 2, 2012 5:46 PM

Well, two things: reports indicate this practice of intentionally trying to injure players went on for more than two seasons, and had no investigation revealed it, no one on the Saints would have said a word. So how valid is this, “I’m sorry” bit from person? Worthless is my opinion. I do not foster unemployment for anyone (been there, done that) but, I do think that some punishment that puts a stain or asterisk by his name from here out would be very appropriate. He earned it, let him wear the label of fraud.

At least he’s being honest.
Regardless, this is pretty bad and I expect a fine and penalty similar to spygate. Even though it didn’t really help them win, it’s a horrible practice and is still illegal so I expect them to be punished. They were going out of their way to injure Warner and Farve during their title run.

trollhammer20 says:Mar 2, 2012 5:53 PM

Gotta wonder….St. Louis fans, you really want this guy on your sidelines? I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the axe. This isn’t a little thing that’s going to go away, this will be hanging over him for the rest of his career.

If the NFL had any balls at all, they’d ban him from the league for life. What else is appropriate? Give him a fine, or make him miss a game or two, and some coaches might figure it’s worth the risk if they can get results similar to what the Saints had in 2009. Make it clear that this is just as bad as gambling in the eyes of the league, and people will get the message.

They should pull their Superbowl Trophy just like the NCAA does for rule violations. Can’t give the Vikings the win, but they can take away the Saints win.

Williams should be kicked out of the league, he admits he knew what he was doing, salary cap violations here for unreported pay to players. It should get real ugly for the Saints, to bad Williams dragged the Rams into it. The Rams don’t need any more problems.

Maybe give the Vikings and the Rams the Saints 1st three picks this year and next!

ilovefoolsball says:Mar 2, 2012 5:55 PM

As far as this tainting the Saints Superbowl win, keep dreaming “other teams’ and don’t be mad bro (falcons, vikings fans). The Saints have a Lombardi and you don’t, and the NFL won’t strip them of that trophy so you can keep dreaming.

The bigger question is, how is Williams ever going to have any credibility as a D coordinator going forward? His whole mantra is fear and punishment and now he has been reduced to a bawling apologetic toddler. How will those defensive players be able to respect him now that he’s lost his mystique.

I was always amazed that Drew Brees didn’t get lit up. Because if I’m a NFL head coach and team was admittedly going after my QB like the Saints were doing in 2009. I for sure will have my defense go after theirs and not only will they attempt to light Up their QB, they will succeed. Go on an throw the flag.

cursedvikingfan says:Mar 2, 2012 5:56 PM

First off let me say that this shouldn’t let the Vikings off the hook. THEY lost that Championship game more than the Saints won it. Fumbles, poor coaching and yes the INT at the end. They outplayed, and out gained the Saints and were still too inept to win.

Now with that being said, this guy has always been a scumbag. The thing I feel that makes this different is they really didn’t hide the fact they were playing dirty. Everyone had suspected they were going after players. They are also not the first team to do it, I think just the most vocal about it. Makes you wonder how much Coach Peyton knew about it? Letting Williams go was a smart move for the Saints.

Also, where is the onus on the league? Two cheap shots, one especially on Favre in the title game had something to do with the outcome, and the refs did nothing. Oh wait, they commented days later that flags should’ve been thrown. I really don’t agree this should taint anything the Saints have done. I mean they won the SB, but if Minnesota doesn’t screw themselves this is all just a story about a d-bag coordinator. It obviously didn’t help them the last 2 years.

Sal Alosi of the Jets lost his job for tripping a Miami Dolphin player that was running on the sideline……..Greg Williams should be terminated by St Louis immediately and suspended by the NFL for 1 year.
Dude is not even that good of a cordinator to justify keeping him in St Louis. His whole game plan is gimmicks and blitzes and once teams figure out where the heat is coming from they always smoke his defenses.

Williams doesnt apologize to the Cardinals or Vikings. He is a scumbag, He should lose the ability to coach in the NFL period. Ban him from the NFL and fine him his entire salary while with the saints and have him donate that amount to a local charity of the Cardinals and Vikings choice. CHEATER.

yardape74 says:Mar 2, 2012 6:40 PM

This clown isn’t even a quality coach. Loved watching his Defense get scorched in Frisco.

airnrodgers says:Mar 2, 2012 6:44 PM

Also read that Williams had the same system in Washington which just so happens to be when Peyton manning started having neck problems after a high/low hit in 06 against Washington, coincidence? I think not

AlohaMrHand says:Mar 2, 2012 6:52 PM

can the Raiders have your first round pick?

patriotsssss says:Mar 2, 2012 6:57 PM

You guys are a joke. Spygate was BS. Patriots still won 18 games after that. Such losers you guys are. And the Saints are still fine in my book. You can never take away the Saints SB. And you can’t even touch Patriots 3 SBs. Nothing you can do about it.

“I’m really, really sorry……….now that I’ve been caught.” Suck one Gregg, you deserve it. I hope you’re out of the league for this. Bring that garbage to the UFL where the bushleague amateur hour crap should be.

Not like they got caught stealing signals after winning 3 superbowls.
“Pay for performance”? Otherwise known as professional sports… So who writes the checks?

================================
Are you truly that stupid? No signals were “stolen.” Signals were taped from an “unathorized” location. Furthermore, no one was harmed by these actions. Trying to hurt aplayer or have carted off the field borders on criminal acts. If you took some one’s keen out in the street, and he had to be taken to the hospital….you would be cheking into the Hotel Graybar.

hailvictory44 says:Mar 2, 2012 7:46 PM

I’ll post this again and maybe the almighty censor will let it ride this time.

Williams, “I made a terrible mistake…getting caught.”

cobrala2 says:Mar 2, 2012 8:02 PM

Goodell better own up and decimate Gregg Williams – in the least – if not also for every player that caused injury to an opponent under his “coaching”.

This excuse is unacceptable! He knew it was wrong while he was doing it? What a clown.

The thing that burns me is that it takes away from some fine defensive play from the Saints during the 2009 and 2010 seasons (the defense was less effective in 2011). A lot of those guys played really, really well.

Oh and I guess this means Darren Sharper is an abject liar since he’s denying it at the same time Gregg Williams admits it.

I’m still a Saints fan, but let’s just say I won’t be buying any merchandise this year.

They should take all the Saints Draft picks and give them to the Raiders. They would never hurt anybody….Oh wait, Sorry Ben

Late…

enochmh2 says:Mar 2, 2012 8:22 PM

This should’nt really be a surprise,im certain other teams have done the same. Remember when the ravens were ‘rumoured’ to have a bounty on mendenhall. Lets not forget sean payton was the head coach,im sure he knew something about it

thegonz13 says:Mar 2, 2012 8:26 PM

You’re sorry!?! You paid guys to take out opponents and you’re sorry!

Gregg, you’re only sorry because your arse got caught. Thankfully, you have far less talent in St. Louis to pull off this kind of crap.

Yes Gregg, you are sorry. You’re a sorry excuse for a human being in addition to being a scumbag!

Williams should be hailed as a hero and given a public service award for possibly keeping the vikequeefs for a SB.

mgm36 says:Mar 2, 2012 8:38 PM

too late for the apology greggo. it rings very hollow

effjohntaylornorelation says:Mar 2, 2012 8:42 PM

The “tell sign” here about what type of man Williams is became apparent when he apologized. I doubt his remorse is genuine but HE HAD NO PROBLEM admitting his actions while shoving the Saints into the fire. This prick doesn’t care about what he did only that the Saints did not want him back. I hope he is banned from the NFL.

He had to admit it because player(s) came forward. I heard snitches get stitches….just what I heard. And why should the Redskins lose a pick? Coach Gibbs already said he didn’t hear anything about this mess. Williams will get a year suspension, Saints get fined and that will be that. Hail!

johanneschimpo says:Mar 2, 2012 9:20 PM

What mistake? Sharper says it didn’t happen.

paulieorkid says:Mar 2, 2012 9:23 PM

Let’s be CLEAR here. Williams is claiming he merely made a mistake, albeit a terrible mistake.

Seriously?

Really???

Since when did a repeated pattern of intentional misconduct … somehow morph into something that can be pawned off as “a mistake?”

A mistake is a typo, a stumble over a crack in the sidewalk, a locked my keys in the car moment. We ALL make those kinds of mistakes.

What a mistake is NOT —- is a pre-meditated, calculated, manipulative scheme to destroy lives and livelihoods of opponents and their families. Hardly any of us make that kind of “mistake.”

So now, that disgusting beady-eyed bag of rotting excrement now is trying to play us again —> by feigning responsibilty while at the same time categorizing it as “a mistake.”

Ban him from the NFL. Period.

uncletuna says:Mar 2, 2012 9:34 PM

Punish the individuals – if the team owner said knock it off and they continued without his knowledge then the individuals should receive the brunt of it…

Gregg Willliams, Jon Vilma, Roman Harper should get the book and be suspended for a year…

But if you are going to punish the team – punish all teams that have done it and let all of them lose their first round draft picks…

wenellniners says:
Mar 2, 2012 5:48 PM
a lot of people are comparing this to the patriots “spy gate.” as bad as both incidents were, i think the spy gate situation is much worse.

football is a game of two principals, misdirection and deception; without those two elements, you’re not playing football anymore.

using a video camera to gain the defensive and offensive signals of the opposing team is a whole different type of cheating in my opinion.

i don’t agree with what greg williams or the saints did but i don’t remember seeing anything but hard clean hits including the hit on kurt warner.
————————————————–
Are you kidding me. They were penalized at least 4 times for late hits or unsportsmanlike conduct. This guy is a joke. Big B. in New England didn’t cause a guys career to be cut short because of a little video taping. I have loved the NFL and the hard hits for a long time. However, a dirty play is a dirty play and if players are rewarding each other for potentially shortening someone else’s career and it was done on purpose. That is freaking despicable. Your take is a joke! I don’t even like the Pats or B.B., but I can’t believe you think that taping B.S. is worse than this.

casedogg says:Mar 2, 2012 11:05 PM

Williams is a puke. I think the NFL should go after Sean Peyton as well. You know the head coach knew all about this as well. No class in “WHO DAT’ nation. When they arent trying to hurt guys, they are running up the score to pad Brees’ stats. I guess Peyton getting his knee blown out this season may be a little karma. haha!

Strip super bowl trophy and rings, and call the superbowl of the 2009-2010 season null and void, or give it to the Colts.

Strip NO ability to use the franchise tag, and take away 2nd round pick in 2012 draft, and first and second round pick in 2013 draft.

Or, since williams was d coordinator for what? 2-3 years in NO? then say there will be no late hit, or unsportsman like penalties against opposing teams for 2-3 years in NO… So if you want, Seahawks defense could just come crashing into the huddle and light up brees… No flag!

Just goes to show… the “who dat” nation who thought they are/were so good over the past few years, are just tainted… A joke of a team, especially when everyone but the owner knew about this! One must feel bad for Benson… He was lied to by everyone about it!

The ‘aints are a joke… They will get no sympathy from me. Especially since everyone but Owner Tom Benson knew about this. And when your going out to intentionally hurt another player, you don’t even deserve to be in the league! What a bunch of bums! Especially Williams since he “instituted” this……

opie333 says:Mar 5, 2012 9:05 AM

I hate football and what we’ve done to it! Bunch of Liberals have tried to make it politically correct! Oh my god somebody was paid to hit another player!!! What a bunch of cry babies!